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Suggested Management of Non-Vaccinated Mares Against EHV

The New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Association (NZTBA) has initiated the following advice for all broodmares owners. ...

Kiwis jumping for joy with star Sydney horsewoman

A Cambridge nursery continues to be an integral part of a top Sydney trainer's success in a new role. Windsor Park Stud co-bred and part-owns Valedection, who provided Gai Waterhouse with her first success at the Warrnambool carnival when he coasted clear to win the Brierly Steeplechase on Tuesday. "Gai got a huge thrill out of that and she also won her first jumping race as a trainer when this horse won a hurdle race," Windsor Park's Nelson Schick said. Passed in at Karaka in 2009, the half-...

A message from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) regarding animal welfare

Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is seeking feedback on proposed regulations designed to take the next step in improving our already strong animal welfare system. The proposed regulations cover live animal exports, the care of and conduct towards animals as well as surgical and painful procedures. To ensure we get the best rules possible, we need your feedback. Consultation runs from 14 April until 19 May 2016. Information on the proposals and how to have your say can be found at the...

Vale Rex Fell of Fairdale and Goodwood Studs

A genuinely good all round bloke was lost to the New Zealand thoroughbred industry recently with the death of Rex Selwyn Fell. Rex passed away peacefully in Palmerston North, after a long battle with illness. A battle he fought bravely for over 10 years, and according to his older brother Gerald with great courage. He was born in March 1945 the third child of Arthur and Joan Fell and was half an hour older than his twin brother Tony. He is survived by his children William and Kate and both his...

Influential Manawatu breeder dies

Popular Manawatu thoroughbred breeder and administrator Rex Fell died on Friday after a prolonged battle with illness. He was 71. Rex was an integral part of the family-owned Fairdale Stud dynasty that was established by his father Arthur Fell in the early 1900s and came to prominence as a thoroughbred nursery in the 1950s. Rex enjoyed Fairdale's glory years when Pakistan II dominated the New Zealand sire ranks, winning six champion stallion titles through the late 1960s and 1970s. In an i...

He's Our Rokkii gives John Collinson and his partners Group success in Sydney

In the mid 90's John Collinson set up a foreign exchange business in Auckland and brought in a couple of mates, Costa Feneridis and Paul Bettany, as business partners. As it turned out they also shared an interest in horse racing, and soon after delved into racehorse ownership, often enjoying a beer or two discussing their potential champions and where racing would take them. Fast forward to 2016 and they are the proud part-owners and breeders of He's Our Rokkii (Roc de Cambes-Clerihew[GB]), t...

New stallion ticks all stud’s boxes

A Cambridge farm's search for a stallion to meet their strict criteria has come to a successful conclusion with the signing of a son of the champion galloper and sire Lonhro. Novara Park Stud manager Ray Knight said they had been on the look-out for an Australian Group One performed horse and Sweynesse had satisfied all their expectations on pedigree, performance and type. "Sweynesse is the highest-rated stallion from the Zabeel sire line to begin stud duties in New Zealand since Savabeel. ...

Much hyped Ugo Foscolo first winner for Zacinto

Talented youngster to be set for NZ 2000 Guineas The much touted Ugo Foscolo lived up to the hype surrounding him when making his debut at Rotorua today. The son of Zacinto demolished his rivals in the Rydges Hotel Rotorua 2YO Maiden over 1230m by an ever increasing three and quarter lengths. A comprehensive winner of all three of his trials, Ugo Foscolo has been touted by his connections as a potential Group One horse with trainer Stephen Marsh seeing him as a budding star three-year-old nex...

Queensland Group One challenge beckons top mare

New Zealand's latest Group One-winning mare is almost certain to be given the opportunity to collect a perfect pair. With a top-flight victory on her domestic CV, Perfect Fit is being aimed toward the Queensland winter carnival and the prospect of significantly boosting her future off track value for owners Haunui Farm. "We're giving strong consideration to one or maybe two starts over there and targeting the Winter Stakes," studmaster Mark Chitty said. The Group One feature, run as the Tatts...

Azkadellia shines in Sydney

"She's a little ripper, she always was right from the time she popped out as a foal" enthused Craig Linton when discussing the deeds of Azkadellia (Shinko King [IRE]-Raving) shortly after her sensational win in the 1600 metre Group One Coolmore Legacy Queen of the Turf Stakes. Linton, along with his partner Ilone Kelly, bred Azkadellia and Kelly prepared her to win her first start as a two-year-old in 2014, following which she was sold to Caulfield trainer Ciaron Maher's racing manager Ben Conn...

Bevan's Blog - April 2016

First lesson in England – their leads don't have a clip. And they call them ropes. This discovery was the result of a somewhat confusing conversation with the stud groom during my first day in England. There have been many things that I have found different to the places I have worked in New Zealand and Australia, but before I get into them, I better introduce myself. The best place to start is my name – Bevan Smith. I have grown up in the thoroughbred industry and my father, Chris Smith, ...

Hannah’s Blog - March 2016

Hello All, Last month I worked night shifts foaling down mares in the foaling unit, which was a great experience, as I have never foaled down in a box before. Over the three nights I had 9 mares that all foaled happy and healthy babies. Foaling in a box did bring a new challenge for me as we had to work in a small space/area and we had to make sure the mare would not lie down too close to the wall as it would restrict our movement around her if she needed help. All and all this was a fantastic ...

Davison bags a Group One double for Mapperley

Being in the right place at the right time has enabled Simms Davison's Mapperley Stud to double their involvement with a global thoroughbred giant. The Matamata farm will this year launch the stallion careers of the Group One winners Contributer and Complacent. "It came down to having a good relationship with Darley and when I heard Complacent had been retired I got on a plane to go over and see him and the day I was there Contributer injured himself," Davison said. "I was just Johnny on the ...

New Derby winner for Sir Patrick and family

Breeding Derby winners is not something new for Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan of Cambridge Stud, they have bred or co-bred quite a few, but in Sir Patrick's opinion breeding the Australian Derby winner is the ultimate. Sir Patrick's tally in that event is three, Tristarc (Sir Tristram[IRE]- Renarc) in 1985, Don Eduardo (Zabeel-Diamond Lover) in 2002 and the latest one Tavago (Tavistock-Sara Ann) in 2016, one each from each of his champion stallions. Tavago is the sixth Group One winner that Sir P...

Southern mare sees off northern raiders at Riccarton

Pint sized mare Coulee made sure that the major spoils on offer at Riccarton on Saturday would remain in local hands as she saw off a pair of northern raiders in the Gr. 3 Valachi Downs South Island Breeders' Stakes (1600m). The pint sized Gallant Guru mare made it three wins on end and six from just 15 career starts as she mowed down the Cambridge trained pair of El Sagrado and race favourite Charmont in the closing stages of a keenly run affair, courtesy of a perfect ride from apprentice Jaco...

Stakes double caps superb day for Carter family at Awapuni

The barnstorming finish that carried two-year-old filly Luna Rossa to victory in the Gr. 1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes on Saturday capped a day that Carter family siblings John, Mark and Rachel, who bred and race the filly under their Jomara Bloodstock banner, will never forget. Brothers John and Mark, who were on-course at Awapuni on the day, barely had time to settle their emotions after celebrating a Group Three victory in the Higgins Concrete sponsored Manawatu Classic (20...

Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes on Saturday 9th April

Remember to join us for the Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes on Saturday 9th April At the Te Aroha racecourse From 11.30pm in the Waikato Breeders area Light refreshments will be served throughout the day from 12.30pm This popular event offers a day of high class racing action that is highlighted by the Group 1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes - the country's premier Weight for age Fillies and Mares race. Heading the promotions to be won on the day is a 2016 service...

South Island sale presents many opportunities

The final New Zealand yearling sale for 2016, the New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale has a new venue in Christchurch. The sale, which will be held on Friday 15 April from, 11 a.m., is now at the Riding for the Disabled Building at the Canterbury Agricultural Park in Christchurch. A total of 16 vendors will present a catalogue of 95 entries featuring 90 yearlings, four broodmares and a two-year-old. Last year's leading vendor Berkley Stud presenting 20 yearlings and the well renowned Whi...

Chief Executive’s Blog - March 2016

I write this after watching Kiwi-breds Werther & Victory Magic quinella the Hong Kong Derby on Sunday evening, a tremendous performance that showcased, yet again, the immense quality of the horses we breed in New Zealand. It's timely encouragement as we wean the 2015 crop of foals this autumn. We know we can meet the challenge of top-class competition in any part of the world, we have done it for decades, and we can be confident that our 2015 crop includes plenty of future stars. The bigg...

Nominations to the NZTBA Council 2016/17

Please click here to download the form providing information regarding the forthcoming election of members to the NZTBA Council. Please note that all nominations are due by Friday 6th May 2016. - NZTBA...

Fanatic wins the Wellfield New Zealand Oaks

The old idiom of 'you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours' has worked wonders for a couple of mates and led both to Group One glory. Fanatic (Shocking[AUS]- Komplete Klass) the winner of the Group One Wellfield New Zealand Oaks, is the first Group One winner bred by Sean Kiernan, and the first Group One winner for her sire Shocking. Kiernan is the president of the Egmont Racing Club, a role he took on about the same time Shocking commenced stud duties at Rich Hill Stud. The Egmont Racing Cl...

Broodmare gem dies

Outstanding broodmare Parfore has died at Segenhoe Stud in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales. She was 18. The current New Zealand Broodmare of the Year is the dam of the Group One winners Terravista and Tiger Tees, the Group Two winner Ball of Muscle and the multiple stakes winner Our Lukas. She is also the mother of the two-time Singapore Horse of the Year Super Easy, who currently stands at Hallmark Stud. A Kiwi-bred daughter of Gold Brose, Parfore is also a sister to the dam of the Grou...

A Perfect Fit for Haunui Farm and connections

For a breeder winning a black type race is the ultimate, and if it's with a mare that you race yourself that's an added bonus, according to Mark Chitty, General Manager of Haunui Farm. Chitty was commenting on this after the impressive win by the Elusive City(USA) mare Perfect Fit in the Group Two fillies and mares Westbury Classic over the Auckland Cup Carnival. Perfect Fit was bred by Haunui Bloodstock Limited and is raced by them, along with the Provincial Club Limited, Garry Madill, Margare...

Bonus up for grabs

Weight of numbers suggests the $100,000 Haunui Farm Diamond bonus might be struck at Ellersie on Saturday. The bonus is on offer to any winner of the Gr.1 Sistema Diamond Stakes sired by a Haunui-based stallion with Xiong Feng, The Soultaker and Wyndspelle representing Iffraaj and Caorunn, Cavallucci and Midnight Gossip by Showcasing. The winning owner will receive $60,000, $30,000 to the breeder (the person who paid the service fee to either stallion) with $10,000 to the trainer. - Racing C...

John and Margaret Thompson's Derby Winner

Out of something bad, something good can happen, just ask John and Margaret Thompson the owners of the New Zealand Derby winner Rangipo (Stryker[AUS]-Holloway). For her four-year-old season, the Thompson's sent their lightly raced winning Zabeel mare Holloway to Victoria to race. In the autumn of 2011 she was racing in a 1600 metre race at Flemington and expected to race well, instead she disappeared out the back. When she returned to scale she had been galloped on quite badly and her back legs...